Shoe insert



Aug. 24, 1948. E, c. MELDMAN 2,447,954

SHOE AND INSERT Filed Dec. 7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

E aeo C MELDMHA/ HTTOE/YEV 1943- E. c. MELDMAN 2,447,954

SHOE AND INSERT z sn ets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. '7, 1946 lNVEA/7'02 EDWHED 6. M51. one/v HTT'QEIVEY Patented Aug. 24,1948

. I Edward c. Meldman, Milwaukee, Wis. Application Dcceinber 7, 1946, Serial No. 714,753

This invention relates to improvements in shoes and inserts forshoes, and 'rnore particularly to a novel interior construction ofsh'oes. t

Modern shoes aremade in standard shapes and sizes to fit feet with normal function. In normal 4 function body "weight is properlyydistributedin theheel; shank andsole'of the shoeYA serious problem'results from thefact that :a great many feet do not have normal function and fail todistribute body'weight equitably inithe shoe. Such feet' are not necessarily sickfeetbut' because they are structurally unstable, they" lack"adequate' natural balance and'support and cannot function in harmony withthe shoe. An objectfoft'his invention is to control the unstable foot in a standard shoe, by helping to balance and support the footthereby effecting a} more equitable distribution of body weight in the shoe. *Thejun stable footrequires more" than normal muscle effort to-maintain balance and supports-f There fore, it tends to become prematurely fatigued. A further object of'this invention in aiding the unstable foot to maintain its balance and support, is to retard the onset of muscle fatigue.

The unstable foot, especially when fatigued, tends to shift in the shoe. A distortion of the shoe results, the heels and soles wear unevenly and the shank of the shoe receivestoo little or too much of the body load-"There is a constant conflict in function between athe 3 unstable Cfoot and the shoe. This is an important factor in causing many common foot troubles. An object of this invention is to help prevent the unstable foot from developing many 'prevalent 'foot ailments caused by conflict with the shoe structure.

I have found that control of the unstable foot in the shoe requires more than so-called support of the arches. It requires dynamic control of the entire foot, that is in the standing phase, leverage phase and intermediate phases of foot function. While standing, the weight of the body is received in the foot by the ankle bone (talus). From there the load is distributed to the various underlying foot structures and transmitted to the heel, shank and sole of the shoe. Anteroposterior weight stresses normally flow from the talus, forward to the three inner metatarsals and backward to the heel bone. The vertical weight stresses are receivd from the talus directly by the sustentaculum tali, the obliquely slanted inner shelf of the heel bone. These vertical stresses flow, not directly forward, but downward and obliquely outward toward the cuboid and outer two metatarsal bones. The bodys weight is thus divided in the foot into two distinct weight Y lClaim. (cuss- 71) transmission channels. The antero-posterior channel spans over the oblique channel ina manner similar'itothat of an overhead railroad track crossing over-a road. Since the talus distributes the bodys weight to the two transmission channels of the foot, sturdysupport by the structures underlying the talus-is important for elficient function. In the unstable foot, the structures underlying the talus fail to provide the normal sturdy foundationat this critical weight distributioncenter. This distorts the weight transmission channels, =Vertical weight stresses which normally'are deflected by the sustentaculum tali obliquely towards the shank of the shoe are instead usually-forced directly forward and inward through the talus. Distorted function and strain ultimately causes further structural distortion and instability; An object of this invention is to deflect the vertioal stresses in the unstable foot alongthe normal oblique transmission channel to the shank area of the shoe without interfering-with'the' spring. action of the first metatarsal*segment. In any conventional socal1ed arch supports, now in use, such spring action is somewhat interfered "with.

In normal walking the body progresses in a forward direction while simultaneously body weight is being shifted alternatelyfrom one foot to the other.v I The antero-posterior weight transmission channel of: thefoot normally, is pointed straight ahead and :transmitsithe forward weight forces. Thewoblique transmission channel carries the diagonallweight forces as body weight is shifted to it from the other foot. This weight fiow curves forward upon reaching the cuboid, and as the heel is lifted for the leverage phase of the step, this weight flow is directed successively through the heads of the fifth, fourth and third metatarsals to the second and first metatarsal heads and toes. Here it merges with the forward weight flow for the take-off thrust toward the opposite foot. As the unstable foot receives the diagonal weight forces it tends to go off balance at the outer border of the forefoot. Only with more or less difficulty does it maintain its balance. In the leverage phase, extra effort also is needed to redirect the oblique weight force toward the takeoff area in time for the propulsive thrust. This is the most common cause of the foots overriding of the outer insole border.

An object of this invention is to counter-balance the anterior outer border of the unstable foot and redirect the weight force toward the take-off area of the foot and shoe.

In the skeletal structure of the foot, a line drawn from the heel bone through the fourth metatarsal bone represents a sturdy channel capable of great support. It is an object of this invention to utilize this natural advantage by having a convex elevation in the device which runs from the cuboid area along the shaft of the fourth metatarsal bone to afford better support for this important part of the foot by establishing direct weight transmission with the shank and sole area of the shoe for this part 'ofxthe. fo0t.1.' The shape and principle of the device is constant for all shoes except as varied to suit the style of shoe. In higher heel shoes the posteriorthickness is reduced and sometimes eliminateda- In low heel shoes the anterior thickness may be reduced. The examples shown are.:-for ;the;:averz-;=-- age shoe.

Other and further objects ofthe invention will" be apparent as the description proceeds, reference;-.; being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a viewin perspective. ofanimprovement for shoes embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the same..

Fig. 3 is a view on, lines 3-3 of Fig.- 1..

Fig.4 is a sectional view on line. 44 of Fig: 1.

Fig. 5 is a View on line 55-of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the invention as embodied in an insert for shoes, showingthe device proper in dotted lines.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on line |l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the-device and its relative placement withreferenceto the-bones of the footand the shoe'insole. I

Fig. 9 is a view partly broken away in perspec- '35 tive: showing the device in. position in.- a lady s shoe.

Fig. 10 is a view inperspective ofamans shoe for the left foot with the devicein position,

Fig. 11 is avertical sectional view takenthrough .40 a shoe and the wearer's foot.

It will be understood that; therdevicemaysbe incorporated within a shoe during. the'manufacture thereof. It may also be incorporated within an insert similar to an insole. whichymay; be .4 inserted into a conventionalshoe ofrsta-ndard make.

Referring more particularly to thez.drawing,.the numeral l0 refers to the device generally as shown in Fig. 1, showing aunit of the invention which would be built into a shoe forthe'left foot; The left hand portion of the device has an upturned edge I I, which is curved to conformwithrthe left side of the human foot. Thebase portionlZ of the device has two rounded lateral edges at l3 and I4 thereof, and said edge portions of the device are not cushioned or padded. The base portion [2 is longitudinally thickened arcuately in cross section, with the apex of said padded portion extending longitudinally of said base l2, approximately one-third of the distance from the left edge of the left foot accommodating device. The vertical sectional views in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show;- the approximate allocation of ,the;thickened area.

Fig. 6 shows an insole adapted to be placed in astandard shoe, with the device of the present invention shown in dotted line in said structure. It will be seen that the upturned portion I I is reducedly upwardly padded as shown in Fig. '7.

In Fig.8 the inverted plan view of the left foot shows tlie' proper location and relation of the devioeito the bones of said foot. Adapted to a lady's shoe as shown in :Fig. 9, the device is shown conforming tothe peculiarshape [of the .shoe, and may have relatively. less thickening toward the rear or posterior. portion thereof, with an increaseof thickening relatively .intheanterior part.

It willbe understoodthat .thedeviceis capable of. many modificationsv in. structure and design, without departingfrom, the, spirit. of the. invention, within .the. scope of the appended ,claim.

Having. thus described, my invention what I claim and, desire to. secure ,by LettersPatent ofthe. United States, is

Anaddition. to the standardshoefor stabilizing the. footcomprising a. baseportion terminating short of theg-front. ,of the foot in. a curved lobe; and, having, a curved .lobe. under. the longitudinal archat .one side,- a. built unportion. transversely arcuate in cross section witha convexityextending. longitudinally thereof, andanupward flange atthe other side :adapted to engage. about the outeredge? of.- the. foot.

EDWARD. 0.. MELDMAN.

REFERENCES. CITED.

The following references are: of record the file of this patent:-

UNITED I STATES PATENTS I Great Britain; -1 Oc.t:;'19., 19.37 

